Freezing container



Dec. 16, 1952 J. E. LAYTON FREEZING CONTAINER 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed NOV. 18, 1950 Dec. 16, 1952 J. E. LAYTON 2,621,488

- FREEZING CONTAINER Filed Nov. 18, 1950 2 sx-mms-smzm 2 Patented Dec. 16, 1952 FREEZING CONTAINER Joseph E. Layton, Ilinsdale, Ill., assignor to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 18, 1950, Serial No. 196,464

' The present invention relates to freezing c01 tainer s and more particularly to an ice forming container having means for ejecting the ic'e'.'

With the introduction of the mechanical refrigerator into the homes, the problem of removing ice cubes from ice trays has been encountered. In the earlier types of refrigerators, it was necessary to remove the ice tray from the refrigerator and run warm water over it in order to break the bond between the tray and the ice before the ice cubes could be removed. In recent years many types of trays have been developed whereby the cubes can be removed without the necessity "of running warm water over the tray, but inf imost of these it is still necessary to remove th'eltray from the refrigerator before the cubes can be separated from the trays. Another disadvantage present in many of these trays is that-in breaking the bond between the ice and tray-all the cubes in the tray are removed and if only a few cubes are desired it is very difficult to fit'the remaining cubes back into the tray.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with an ice forming device which is so constructed that ice cubes may be ejected therefrom one at a time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerator with an ice forming container from which ice cubes may be removed without requiring removal of the container from the refrigerator.

Still another object of the invention is to. provide an ice forming device with a novel ice ;ejecting means which may be easily operated.

A further object of the invention is to secure an ice forming device to a door of a refrigerator so that when ice cubes are desired, they willpbe readily available when the door is open.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein? Fig. l is a front elevational View of the top portion of a refrigerator cabinet.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ice container taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. '3 is a cross-sectional view of the ice container taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. i

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the ice containerat 45 rotation.

Fig. '5 is a cross-sectional view of the ice container at 90 rotation. N

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ice container at 135 rotation.

Fig. .7 is a cross-sectional view of the ice container at 180 rotation.

12 Claims. (Cl. 62--89) Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a modified ice container.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the modified ice container of Fig. 8 taken on line 9-9.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the modified ice container with a single ice container rotated 45.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the modified ice container with a single ice container rotated Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the modified ice container with a single ice container rotated Referring more particularly to the drawing. there is shown a portion of a refrigerator cabinet l 3 having a horizontal evaporator H which forms the walls of a fast freezing compartment [2 located in the upper portion of the food storage compartment I3. The specific design of the evaporator II is not material and can be of. any of the well-known types through which refrigerant is circulated which absorbs heat from the air within food storage compartment l3 andfast freezing compartment l2. The front of compartment I2 is closed off from compartment 13 by doors M which are vertically hinged to evaporator ll.

A plurality of ice forming containers l5 are secured to the inner wall It of the doors l4. Each container is provided with bottom IT, inclined front wall I8, inclined side walls Hand 20, and rear wall 2| which extends above the top edges of the other walls. Rear wall 2| is provided with a recessed portion 22 having a, hole or socket 23 therethrough and a semi-circular slot 2 3 which extends approximately around socket 23. Pivot pin or rod25 is secured to inner wall It and extends into socket 23. Ends 26 and 2! are both peened over in order to -permanently secure the container l5 to the door M. The diameter of rod 25 is slightly smaller than the diameter of socket 23 in order to provide a sliding fit so that the container 15 may be rotated about rod 25.

An ejector arm 28 having a vertically extending leg 29 and a horizontally extending leg 30 is provided for each container. Leg 29 is disposed adjacent to back wall 2! and has a socket 3| which fits over pivot rod 32. Pivot rod, 32, extends through slot 24 and is secured to inner wall It on the same vertical line as rod 25 between bottom wall I! and rod 25. Ends 33 and 34 of rod 25 are peened over in orderto secure arm 28 to inner wall IS. The diameter of rod 132 is slightly smaller than the diameter of socket 3| in order to allow rotation of the ejector arm 28 about rod 32. Leg 30 is disposed adjacent to bottom wall I! with edges 35 and 36 spaced slightly from side walls l9 and 20 respectively.

The containers l are spaced along the width of the evaporator doors 14 so that each may be rotated approximately 180. The container 18 filled to any desirable height with a liquid to be frozen'into 1311.108 cube. WZhenan ice cube is desired, -container ISis rotated about pivot rod 25 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and '7. During this operation, edge 35 of horizontal leg 30 will slide along side wall I!) and ejector arm -28--.wil1 be rotated about pivot rod 25. Leg 29 will move relative to back wall l6 and break the rbondbetween the ice and back wall i 6-. Since-thedis i tance from pivot rod 32 to leg 30 is shorter than the distance from pivot r0d0251t0 thGrGOl'liRiIli-EIT'S bottom l1, leg 30 and bottom wall I! will part from each other during the rotational movement. Since the ice cube is :supported above leg 30, iit-xwill be rejected upwardly :so-athat the .bond between the ice and side walls Miami :20, front wall l8 and bottomavall 81 will be :completely Itainer.

Figs-842 shows. modification in whichseveral containers 39 are :gr'oupe'd t'ogether inserie's on the-rear wall I S'o'fthe door l4. Each container "has :a bottom wall 40, sloping front wall 4 I and "side walls and '43, anda-rear wall 44 which *is pivotally secured to pivot rod 45. The pivot rod 45 is secure'd to rear wall 16 and acts as'a common pivot rodforseveralcontainers 39. Back {W31113$4 "is provided with a socket 45 which fits over pivot rod #35 and a semi-circular slot 4! which extends approximately 180 about socket 46. A second=pivot rod48 is secured torear-wall T6 *on the -same vertical'line'as pivot rod id-beitweenl'bottom wall 40 andpivot rod 45. 'Pivot =ro'd 48 eXtends-"through'slots M "and'ejector arms 69 -are pivo'tally :mounted thereon. An ejector arm is *provided for each container and has -a first leg 56 disposedadjacent'bztck wall 4'4 and :ia second -leg 5| disposedadjacentbottom wall d0.

The series of containers 3!! are positioned on ftheievaporator doors l-4 in: spaced relationshipso .tlntt each container may be ,separately rotated :aindthe doorsz40 mayi'be opened. As shown; in

' 9, "lland 12 the container 13.9 is rotated intthesame manneras container [5 as explained 'above'so that the .bond between the ice cube and the container 39 is broken and the ice cube will drop out .of the container. Since 1eg'55 will contact pivot;rod 48 at. approximately 135 of rota- .it-ionasshown' in Fig. 2, it is not possible to. rotate icontainer 39 past thispoint. However, the elec- Etor ;arm will have moved far enough to have icoinpletely .brokenthe' bond between the icecube :andithe :walls of container .39 so that the cube will 'drop .out of the container. The distance 9.]oetween pivotrod-AE and the top edges of side vwalls 42,.and'43 isgreaterthan the distance from .the'bottom wall .to the top edges of the side ,;-walls so .that the ice. cube will slide, ireelhetween pivot rod and the top edges of the container walls.

It is to be understood that many changes could be made in carrying out the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, and it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying :"drawin'gs shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting "sense. Itis desired that only such limitations shall be placed upon the invention as are imposed by the prior art or as are (specifically set forth in the appended claims.

. "what'aisclaimedsisz :1. .In:a device :for forming and ejecting an ice cube, a container :pivotally secured to a portion .of.a..freezingcompartment, and an ejector arm "having a first leg pivotally secured to said portion 'and .a second leg disposed adjacent a wall of said container, said second leg moving away from said wall as the container ,and eel ector .armzare rotated simultaneously -:so that an ice cube will be ejectedifrom the container.

2. Ina device for forming and :ejecting an ice cube, :a :container adapted :to .be filled with a liquid ,to :be 'frozen, :said container ;piv otally .securedto a first pivot rod, and :anzeiector :arm pivotally secured to -a second 4 pivot :rod spaced from :said Ifirst pivot zrod. :said lel'ector :arm having a leg disposed adjacent :the bottom of :said container whichzmoves awayrfrom said bottom :as 'the container;andejector'arm .arezrota'ted simul taneouslmssaid leg-carryingan ice :cube Withzit and ejecting.itfromlthecontainer.

. 3. In a dQViGBJfOI forming and electingan ice cube, a container positioned :in *ajfreezing room'- partment, :said container .providedzawith-a bottom nc ined tifront and side :walls ;:and a :back wall, -and ianzeiectorrarm :havinga first :leg adjacent-said back walltand asecondzleg adjacent said bottom wall, said back Wall pivotally secured to a first pivot rod,:said-first leg-.pivotallypsecuredto a second pivo,t;rcd so that-as :saidccntainer-and :ej-ector arm --are;rotated simultaneously said first leg moves relative :to said :back .wall and :said second leg moves :away from said :bottom -.wall which .iejects an ice cube :from .the container.

4. In a :device for forming and ejecting an. ice cube, :a .container positioned in a freezing compartment, said container having a bottom wall, inclined front and side Walls and aback wall which extends above said other --walls, a first pivot {rod secured to; a portion of said-freezing compartment, a second pivot rod spaced below said firstpivot-rod and secured-to ;:said portion, said "back wall having :a socket which fits "over "said'fi-rst pivot, rod .;and.;a semi-circu ar slot spaced from said socket through Whichsaid second pivot rod extends, and an ejector arm having -a first leg which is disposed adjacent to said back wall and secured .to said second pivot rod and a second ,leg disposed adjacent said'bottom wall, said container andejectorarm adapted to be rotated simultaneously .so 'that said first leg movesrelative.to.said.back .wall and said second, leg :moves awayIromsaid-bottom wall which .breaks the bond between the ice cube and the container.

"5. In a refrigerator, a door for closing a freezer compartment, an iceforming vcontainer pivotally secured to said .door,.and ;an ejector arm having a first leg pivotall-y secured tosaid door and a second leg disposed adjacent the bottom of; said container,;said. second ,legmoving away from said bottom as the ;ccntainer .-and

ejector arm are rotated simultaneously which ejects an ice cube from the container.

6. In a refrigerator, a door for closing a freezer compartment, a first pivot rod secured to said door to which an ice forming container is pivotally secured, an ejector arm pivotally secured to a second pivot rod which is secured to said door in spaced relation to said first pivot rod, said ejector arm having a portion adjacent the bottom of said container which moves away from said bottom as the container is rotated and ejects the ice from the container.

7. In a refrigerator, a door for closing a freezer compartment, a first pivot rod secured to said door to which a plurality of ice forming containers are pivotally secured, a second pivot rod secured to said door in spaced relation to said first pivot rod, a plurality of ejector arms pivotally secured to said second pivot rod, an ejector arm provided for each container, each ejector arm having a first leg pivotally secured to said second pivot rod and a second leg disposed adjacent the bottom of a container, said second leg and said bottom moving apart as the container is rotated so that the ice is ejected from said container.

8. In a refrigerator, a door for closing a freezer compartment, a first pivot rod secured to said door to which an ice forming container is pivotally secured, a second pivot rod spaced from said first pivot rod and secured to said door, said container having a circular slot through which said second pivot rod extends, and an ejector arm pivotally secured to said second pivot rod with a leg adjacent the bottom of said container, said leg moving away from said bottom as the container is rotated which ejects an ice cube from the container.

9. In a device for forming and ejecting an ice cube, a container pivotally secured to a wall of a freezing compartment, and an ejector extending into said container adjacent a wall thereof, said ejector being pivotally secured to said compartment wall so that the ejector will move relative to said container wall when said container and ejector are rotated simultaneously whereby said ice cube is broken free from said container.

10. In a device for forming and ejecting an ice cube, 9, container positioned in a freezing compartment, and an ejector extending into said container adjacent a wall thereof, said container and said ejector being pivotally secured to a wall of said compartment at spaced apart locations, said container and ejector being adapted to be rotated simultaneously so that said ejector moves relative to said container wall and breaks the bond between said ice cube and said container.

11. In a device for forming and ejecting an ice cube, a container adapted to be filled with a liquidto be frozen, said container pivotally secured to a first rod which is fastened to the wall of a freezing compartment, and an ejector pivotally secured to a second rod which is fastened to said wall in spaced relation to said first rod, said ejector having a projection disposed adjacent the bottom of said container which moves away from said bottom as the container and ejector are rotated simultaneously, said projection carrying an ice cube with it and ejecting it from the container.

12. In a refrigerator, a door for closing a freezer compartment, a first rod secured to said door to which a plurality of ice forming containers are pivotally secured, a second rod secured to said door in spaced relation to said first rod, a plurality of ejectors pivotally secured to said second rod, each ejector extending into a separate container adjacent a wall thereof, each container adapted to be rotated individually whereby the ejector therein moves relative to the wall of the container and breaks the bond between said ice and said container.

JOSEPH E. LAYTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 857,396 Hammond June 18, 1907 2,189,959 Money Feb. 13, 1940 2,199,413 Patrignani May '7, 1940 2,259,066 Gaston Oct. 14, 1941 2,522,651 Van Vleck Sept. 19, 1950 

